Nes jacobus van dee eeeden



W. 1.1. VAN DER EERDEN;

' CONTROL CLOCK.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 5.1918.

.Patented Jan. 11,. 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET Win 2965a W. J. J. VAN DER EERDEN.

CONTROL CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1913.

9 Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

iV f/vwsz's AVKEMYWA UNITED STATES ?ATE.NT QFFHCE.

WILHELMUS J OHANNES JACOBUS VAN DER EERDEN, OF ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.

CONTROL-CLOCK.

Application filed June 5, 1918.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVnzr-rnmrns JOHAN- NES Jnoonns van nnn Ennonn, mechanician, a subject of the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at Rotterdam, in the Province of South Holland, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Control-Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a control clock of the kind in which the employee or work-- man to be controlled writes his name on strip of paper whereby the time at which this is done is automatically recorded.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for determining the time, the said mechanism to receive such a sudden movement of the printing device, which presses the ink ribbon and the strip of paper against the type-disks, that the clock-work of the apparatus cannot be influenced in any way in its action and that the printing of the time on the strip of paper takes place so quickly and quite independently of the will of the person recording, that the clockwork does not experience any harmful or retarding influence through the manipula tion of the apparatus. An example of a design of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation with however the front side plate left out for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 a gross section and partial back view of the clock-work.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the front side platein position but with the clock-work and its accessories left out.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the apparatus with the clock-w0rk and its accessories and also some other devices left out.

The framework consisting of two side plates 2 and 3 is fixed to a base plate 1. The paper roll 1 which in the drawing is shown at the left hand side is supported by and is free to turn between these two side plates. The paper strip 5 runs from this roll over guide rollers 6 and 7 and over a writing plate 8 fixed between these two rollers and also under a second plate 54 fixed above the writing plate. This second plate which can be of glass or other transparent material is provided with a slit 55. The paper strip is further led over the terminal roller 9. By turning this roller in the direction of the arrow head a (Fig. 1) the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Serial No. 238,364.

paper strip which has its free end fixed in the terminal roller unrolls itself from the paper roll and rolls itself up on the terminal roller. The terminal roller 9 is free to turn around a spindle 10 at one end of which handle 11 and a ratchet wheel 12 is fixed. The terminal roller 9 is provided with a disk 18 which carries a pawl 1 1 for the ratchet wheel 12. The pawl 1 1- is always kept in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by means of the flat spring 15. On that side of the side plate 2 (Fig. 2) where the ter" minal roller is situated there is a pawl. 16 which rocks about an inwardly projecting pin 1'? fixed to the side plate 2. By means of a spring 18 this pawl 16 is held in contact with a ratchet wheel 19 which together with the above mentioned disk 13 is fixed to the terminal roller 9; the teeth of the ratchet wheel 19 are set in the opposite di rection relatively to the teeth of the ratchet wheel 12. In order to set the pawl 16 out of contact with its ratchet this pawl is made with an angular extension 20 which, when the pawl has been brought out of contact can be placed in a slit 21 provided for this purpose in a lever 22 hinged in the side plate 2. (This lever 22 is shown in section in Fig. 2.)

On the end of the spindle 10 opposite to that where the handle 11 is attached there is fixed a lever 23 the right end of which shown in Fig. 1 is attached to a tension spring 24. By means of this spring the spindle 10 is held in that position in which the handle 11 rests with the projection 25 in contact with the upper edge of the side plate 2. (See Fig. 3.) In this position of the spindle 10 the pawl 16 lies hinged on the side plate 2 with its nose behind a tooth on the ratchet wheel 19 fixed to the terminal roller while the pawl 14 hinged on the disk 13 which is also fixed to the terminal roller lies with its nose behind a tooth of the ratchet wheel 12.

Hinged on the opposite end of the lever 23 there is a pawl 26 the nose of which is in contact with a toothed disk 30 which in the drawing is shown as a circular disk with four teeth 31 separated from each other by 90. This pawl 26 is held in contact by means of a tension spring 27 one end of which is fixed to the pawl (at point 28) and the other end to the lever 23 (at point 29).

This toothed disk 30 belongs to the apparatus printing off the time and the details of this apparatus will now be explained.

In the first place it must be mentioned that the spindle 32 is an extension of the spindle for the hands of a clock the works of which are not shown in the drawing. This extension is carried through the side plate 3 on the left of which (Fig. 2) are situated the works oi the clock. By means o'l. this extended spindle two disks 33 and 34 are driven in the same way as the two hands of a watch are driven. One of these disks carries the type for the hours on its circumference, that is to say the numbers 1 to 12, each number being repeated three times in succession before the next number is reached; the second disk 34 carries the types 1 to 60 for the minutes. The types are supplied with ink by means of an ink ribbon 35 which is led in the usual manner over 'uide rollers 36 and over an ink roller 37. The ink ribbon is pressed against the latter by means of a pressure roller 38 which is attached to the free end of a lever 39 held down by a spring.

In order that the ink ribbon may be supplied witlrfresh ink at all points the invention provides for the paper strip to be led over a guide roller 7 the movement oi which is transmitted by means of toothed wheels to the ink roller 37 One of these toothed wheels 40 is fixed to the roller 37 and the other 41 is fixed to the, roller 7. When the paper is moved over the guide roller 7 the latter rotates and the consequence is that the ink ribbon is moved along as well by the friction between it and the ink roller 37. In order that the time may be printed the ink ribbon must be pressed against the type disks at the same instant as the paper strip. This operation must be carried out in such a manner that the disks and consequently also the clock-work can not be retarded in their motion and that the printing of the time on the paper strip is done so quickly as not to affect the working of the clock in any way whatsoever. vention provides for this with the mechanism described below.

The above mentioned toothed disk 30 on which the pawl 26 of the lever 23 operates can rotate around the pin 42 which is provided on the side plate 3. Two further disks can also rotate around this pin viz. astriker-disk 43 and a non-circular disk 44. In the design shown this latter disk is square with rounded corners. The disks 30. 43 and 44 are all joined up together and turn as a single system around the pin 42. The disk 44 rests normally with one of its sides against the lever 45. This lever is hinged at its lower end (at point 46) to the side plate 3 and a tension spring 47 is attached to its other end. On turning the four cornered disk in the direction of the arrow head this lever ro ks around its pin and the spring 47 is pulled out.

.in this position while the spring 27 The inv Attached to the side plate 3 is also a slitted flat spring 48 the free end of which is provided on the upper side with two movable printing blocks 49 which may be rubber covered; these blocks serve to press the paper strip and the ink ribbon against the hour disk and the minute disk for which purpose the writing plate 8 over which the paper strip is led is provided at this particular spot with a slit 50 (Fig. 2). The spring 48 with the printing blocks 49 is pressed against the type disks by means of the projections 51 on the striker disk 43 when the latter rotates. The relative position to one another of the toothed disk 30, the striker disk 43, the square disk 44 and the lever 45 is so chosen that the pawl 26 after having been brought into contact with a tooth 31 of the toothed disk turns this disk and also the striker disk and the square disk so far that the square disk is turned past its dead point (with one rounded corner against the lever 45) under the action of the stretched spring 47 the lever then causes the square disk to turn smartly on into its next position with the next side lying against the lever 45. During this sudden turning motion a projection 51 oi the striker disk 43 strikes against the under side of the spring 48 causing it to rise and to press against the paper strip and the ink ribbon after which it comes to rest in the groove 52 of the projection 51.

The action of the control clock-work is as follows.

The paper strip 5 is fixed with its one end in the terminal roller 9 and the handle 11 lies in its position of rest with its projection 25 resting on the upper edge of the side plate 2, the pawls 16 and 14 lie then each with their noses behind a tooth on the ratchet wheels 19 and 12 respectively. The spring 24 of the lever 23 holds these arcgs 01 s the pawl 26, which is attached to the lever 23 in contact with the circumference of the toothed disk 30 at a position between two of the teeth 31. The square disk 44 lies with one of its sides against the lever 45.

The type disks 33 and 34 are rotated by the clock-work in the direction of the hands of a clock.

The employee or workman who uses the clock writes his name, his initials or his number on that part of the paper strip which is uncovered by the slit 55 in the glass plate. He then turns the handle over to the left until the pawl 26 comes into contact with a tooth 31 on the disk 30. This turning of the handle 11 causes the spindle 10 and with it the pieces of mechanism attached to it viz. the ratchet wheel 12 and the lever 23 to turn and also causes the spring 24 to be stretched. This rotation of the ratchet wheel 12 is transmitted to the disk 13 by means of the pawl 14 thus causing the terminal roller 9 and the ratchet wheel 19 to turn. The pawl 16 then slips over the next tooth on the ratchetwheel 19 and-grips behind it; at the same time the pawl 26 comes into contact with a tooth 31 of the disk 30. The terminal roller has drawn the paper strip with it in its rotation by such an amount that the position where the signature is situated is now immediately opposite the printing blocks 49 on the flat spring 48. The person using the clock now lets the handle 11 return to its original position under the influence of the spring 24. The

.= pawl 14 then slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 12 while the disk 13, the ratchet wheel 19 and the terminal roller 9 remain at rest. The lever 23 is drawn back at the same time and this causes the pawl 26 which had already gripped behind a tooth 31 on the disk 30 to turn this disk 80 and also the striker-disk 3 and the square disk 44. The pawl 26 turns these parts so far that the square disk passes its dead point relatively to the lever 45. Under the pressure of the lever 45 caused by the tension in the spring 47 a very quick and sudden rotary motion is then given to the square disk 44, the striker disk 43 and the toothed disk 30 under the adjacent side of the square disk lying up against the lever 45. During this sudden turning motion a projection 51 of the strikerdisk 43 strikes against the under side of the end of the flat spring 48 and lifts the movable printing blocks 49 whereby the paper strip and the ink ribbon are pressed against the type disks. This takes place with such rapidity that the clock-work does not expe rience the least harmful influence on its motion.

The time in hours and minutes is thus now printed opposite the name, initials or number written on the paper strip and the apparatus is again ready for the use of the next person. When all the persons in question have signed and recorded their time the manager, time-keeper or the like can remove the portion of the paper strip with the signatures and times from the terminal roller, for which purpose the terminal roller is released from the pawls 14 and 16. The pawl 16 can be set out of contact by placing its angular extension piece in the slit 21 of the lever 22 and the pawl 14 can be lifted out past the spring 15. The lifting out of the pawl 14 is done by turning the disk 13 which causes a pin 56 to come into contact with a projection 57 on the pawl 14.

As has already been mentioned in the description of the construction the rolling off of the paper strip with the rotation of the terminal roller causes at the same time the ink ribbon to be moved and to be always kept supplied with fresh ink.

The whole apparatus can be built into a case from which only the handle which must be given the necessary freedom of movement need protrude; as already mentioned the glass plate must be provided with a slit of suitable size.

The only deception which is possible with the apparatus described above is this, that the signature of a person who uses the apparatus can be forged; this however rarely happens in practice.

Claims.

1. A. control clock in which the person to be controlied, employee, workman or the like, signs his name on a paper strip and in which the time at which this is done is automatically recorded, characterized by the fact that the mechanism for printing the time consists of a toothed disk (30) which is joined up with a striker-disk and a non-circular disk all three disks form ing a' single system rotating about a pin which toothed disk (30), in order to take the time given by the type disks and to record it on the paper strip by means of the printing blocks, is so far rotated that the non circular disk 44, by means of a lever 45 working together with it, (which lever is under the influence of a spring 47 stretched by this rotation) in the instant of its passing through its dead point relatively to this lever, is suddenly turned into and past a certain position, under the influence of the spring 47, in which position a projection on the striker disk presses the paper strip and the ink ribbon against the type disks by means of the printing blocks which type disks are arranged on the extension of the spindle for the hands of the clock.

2. In a control clock the combination with a record strip for receiving autographs and time controlled types for marking time on said record strip, of means for bringing the record strip in contact with said type, said means comprising a toothed disk, a hammer element and an angular disk pivotally mounted as a single mechanical unit, spring means bearing on the periphery of the angular disk, resiliently supported pressure blocks interposed between the hammer element and the record strip for forcing the record strip against the type, a pawl constructed and arranged to engage the toothed disk and mounted for limited movement along the periphery of the said toothed disk, a spring for imparting movement to the pawl in one direction and means for turning the pawl against the tension of said spring in opposite direction.

3. In a control clock the combination with a record strip for receiving autographs and time-controlled types for marking time on said record strip, of means for bringing the record strip in contact with said type, said means comprising a resiliently supported pressure block adapted to press the record strip against the type, a pivotally mounted hammer element positioned to impart during rotation motion to the pressure block and mechanism operatlve to impart to the hammer element free and accelerated motion past the pressure block, said mechanism including a cam element connected to and rotating with the hammer element, a member having movement in the path of motion of the cam, spring means positioned to force said member against the cam element and means for turning the hammer element about its pivot.

4. In a control clock the combination with a record strip for receiving autographs and time-controlled types for marking time on said record strip, of means for bringing the record strip in contact with said type, said means comprising a resiliently supported pressure block adapted to press the record strip against the type, a pivotally mounted hammer element positioned to impart during rotation motion to the pressure block and mechanism operative to impart to the hammer element free and accelerated motion past the pressure block, said mechanism including a cam element connected to and rotating with the hammer element, a lever pivotally supported at one end and projecting into the path of motion of the cam element, spring means acting on the other end of the lever to force it against the cam element and means for turning the hammer element about its pivot.

5. In a cont-r01 clock the combination with a record strip for receiving autographs and time-controlled types for marking time on said record strip, of means for bringing the record strip in contact with said type, said means comprising a resiliently supported pressure block adapted to press the record strip against the type, a pivotally mounted member carrying a plurality of hammer elements along its periphery to successively impart motion to the said pressure block, means defining a plurality of cam elements connected to said member and rotating therewith, a member supported for motion to- Ward and away from the said cams in the path of motion thereof, spring means for forcing the said member into the path of motion of the cams and means for turning the said pivotally mounted member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILHELMUS JOHANNES JACOBUS van der EERDEN. 

